Leaves are shiny dark-green and oval to heart-shaped with a pointed tip

Small, star-shaped flowers are dark purple with 5-petals and grow in clusters of 6-10 blooms

Seed pods are milkweed-like and full of flat, brown seeds covered in fine, white hairs

Habitat: Black swallow-wort vines thrive in both shade and sun and are found in disturbed areas along roadsides, pastures, old fields and gardens as well as alvar and along fens.

Native Range: Southwestern and Northern Europe

U.S. Distribution: From the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and as far south as Kentucky and Missouri. Also present in Quebec and Ontario.

Local Concern: Black swallow-wort grows rapidly and can cover other vegetation. Seeds are carried on the wind or transported by water. Roots are toxic to mammals, including livestock. Plants are toxic to many insect larvae including monarch caterpillars.